Button Structure

The present application is based on, and claims priority from, China Patent Application No. 202421371603.8, filed Jun. 14, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The present invention generally relates to a button structure, and more particularly to a button structure that is stably assembled and is applied to a game controller.

A directional pad (D-pad) belongs to a standard component of a game controller. Most of the game controllers are equipped with the D-pads. The D-pad includes four push buttons with different functions, and the D-pad is used for moving in four directions which are an upward direction, a downward direction, a leftward direction and a rightward direction.

Currently, a bottom of the D-pad of the game controller is equipped with a supporting column. The supporting column is fixed to a circuit board for realizing a location between the D-pad and the circuit board, and a fixation between the D-pad and the circuit board.

However, the supporting column just abuts against a top surface of the circuit board to be fixed to the circuit board, and tolerances between the supporting column and the circuit board are existed, so that the D-pad still wobbles after the D-pad is assembled.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide an innovative button structure that is stably assembled and is applied to the game controller.

An object of the present invention is to provide a button structure that is stably assembled and is applied to a game controller. The button structure includes a push button, a supporting unit and a circuit board. The push button has a top wall. A middle of a bottom surface of the top wall of the push button protrudes downward to form a protruding column. The supporting unit is mounted inside the push button. The supporting unit has a main body, a fixing rod, two side arms and a positioning groove. The main body is a hollow columnar structure. Two opposite sides of the main body extend outward to form the two side arms. A middle of the main body extends downward to form the fixing rod. The fixing rod extends beyond a bottom surface of the main body. A front and a rear of a lower portion of an outer surface of the fixing rod protrude outward to form two buckling hooks. A middle of a top surface of the main body is recessed downward to form a positioning groove. The protruding column is positioned in the positioning groove. The push button is disposed on an upper surface of the circuit board. A bottom surface of the main body is positioned on the upper surface of the circuit board. Two bottom surfaces of the two side arms are positioned on the upper surface of the circuit board. The circuit board has a through hole penetrating through the upper surface and a lower surface of the circuit board. The fixing rod passes through the through hole. The two buckling hooks are buckled to the lower surface of the circuit board. The circuit board is fastened among the bottom surface of the main body, the bottom surfaces of the two side arms and top surfaces of the two buckling hooks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a button structure. The button structure includes a push button, a supporting unit mounted inside the push button, and a circuit board. An inside of the supporting unit forms an inner space that penetrates through a lower surface of the supporting unit. The supporting unit has a top part, two side walls extended downward from two opposite sides of the top part, two connection walls, a fixing rod and two side arms. The two connection walls are arranged between the two side walls, and the two connection walls are connected between the two side walls. The inner space is enclosed by the top part, the two side walls and the two connection walls. The fixing rod is extended downward from a middle of a bottom surface of the top part. The fixing rod extends downward to project out of the inner space. A front and a rear of a lower portion of an outer surface of the fixing rod protrude outward to form two buckling hooks. The two side arms are extended outward from two middles of two outer surfaces of the two side walls, respectively. Each side arm has an extension arm, a bending arm, a fixing end and a positioning bump. The middle of the outer surface of each side wall horizontally extends outward to form the extension arm. An outer end of the extension arm is bent downward to form the bending arm. A lower end of the bending arm horizontally extends outward to form the fixing end. An upper portion of the fixing end is recessed downward to form a positioning bump protruding beyond a bottom surface of the fixing end. The top part is mounted to an upper surface of the circuit board. The push button, the two side walls, the two connection walls and the two side arms are positioned on the upper surface of the circuit board. The circuit board has a through hole penetrating through the upper surface and a lower surface of the circuit board. The circuit board has two positioning holes penetrating through the upper surface and the lower surface of the circuit board. The through hole is located between the two positioning holes. The fixing rod passes through the through hole. The two buckling hooks are buckled to the lower surface of the circuit board. The circuit board is fastened among bottom surfaces of the two side walls, bottom surfaces of the two side arms and top surfaces of the two buckling hooks. The two positioning bumps of the two side arms are positioned in the two positioning holes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a button structure. The button structure includes a push button, a supporting unit mounted inside the push button, and a circuit board. An inside of the supporting unit forms an inner space that penetrates through a lower surface of the supporting unit. The supporting unit has a top part, two side walls extended downward from two opposite sides of the top part, two connection walls, a fixing portion, two first extension portions, two buckling hooks and two side arms. The two connection walls are arranged between the two side walls, and the two connection walls are connected between the two side walls. The fixing portion is extended downward from a bottom surface of the top part. The two first extension portions are extended downward from a bottom surface of the fixing portion. The two first extension portions are separated from each other. Bottoms of the two first extension portions project out of the inner space. The two buckling hooks are extended outward from outer surfaces of the bottoms of the two first extension portions. The two side arms are extended outward from two outer surfaces of the two side walls, respectively. The top part is mounted to an upper surface of the circuit board. The push button, the two side walls, the two connection walls and the two side arms are positioned on the upper surface of the circuit board. The circuit board has a through hole penetrating through the upper surface and a lower surface of the circuit board. The bottoms of the two first extension portions pass through the through hole. The two buckling hooks pass through the through hole. The two buckling hooks are buckled to the lower surface of the circuit board. The circuit board is fastened among bottom surfaces of the two side walls, bottom surfaces of the two side arms and top surfaces of the two buckling hooks.

As described above, the main body is positioned on the upper surface of the circuit board, the two first extension portions and two second extension portions pass through the through hole, the two buckling hooks pass through the through hole, the two buckling hooks are buckled to the lower surface of the circuit board, the two positioning bumps of the two side arms are positioned in the two positioning holes, and the circuit board is fastened among the bottom surfaces of the two side walls of the main body, the bottom surfaces of the two side arms and the top surfaces of the two buckling hooks, so the button structure prevents the circuit board from shaking. Furthermore, the two side walls of the main body are symmetrical, the two connection walls of the main body are symmetrical, two openings of the main body are symmetrical, the two first extension portions of the fixing rod are symmetrical, the two second extension portions of the fixing rod are symmetrical, and the two side arms are symmetrical to facilitate an automatic assembling operation. In addition, a hollow area is formed among the two extension arms and a connection arm of each side wall of the main body, and the two hollow areas of the main body enhances an elasticity of the two side arms to facilitate a manual assembling operation. As a result, the button structure is conveniently assembled automatically and manually, and the button structure is stably assembled and is applied to a game controller.

Referring toand, a button structurein accordance with the present invention is shown. The button structureincludes a push button, a housing, a supporting unitand a circuit board. The push buttonis disposed on an upper surface of the circuit board. The housingis disposed on the upper surface of the circuit boardfor enclosing the push button. The supporting unitis mounted inside the push button. The supporting unitpartially passes through the circuit board, and the supporting unitis fixed to the circuit board.

Referring toto, the push buttonhas a top wall, an outer wall, an inner wall, a directional pad, a plurality of projection parts, a plurality of elastic arms, a plurality of connection sections, and a protruding column. The directional padis formed on a top surface of the top wallof the push button. A middle of a bottom surface of the top wallof the push buttonprotrudes downward to form the protruding column. The protruding columnis disposed in a corresponding mechanism of the supporting unit. The directional padhas four pressing areasin four directions, respectively. The directional padis shown as a cross shape.

Several portions of a bottom of the outer wallof the push buttonextend outward to form the plurality of the projection parts. The plurality of the projection partsare evenly distributed around the outer wallof the push button. Each projection partextends along a radial direction of the outer wallof the push button. The plurality of the projection partsare positioned in a corresponding mechanism of the housing. Specifically, the push buttonhas four projection parts. The four projection partsare arranged corresponding to the directional pad (D-pad). The four projection partsare corresponding to the four pressing areasof the directional pad. The plurality of the projection partsare also arranged corresponding to a metal buttonarranged on the circuit board. One side of each projection partextends outward and along a circumferential direction of the push buttonto form the elastic arm. A middle of the elastic armis arched outward. The clastic armextends around a periphery of the push button. The elastic armis used to provide a tactile feedback for a user. The elastic armis used to provide a better pressing hand feeling for the user. In the present invention, the circuit boardis closer to the plurality of the projection partsthan to the plurality of the clastic arms.

The elastic armhas a first arc portion, a bending portionand a second arc portion. The one side of each projection partextends outward and along the circumferential direction of the push buttonto form the first arc portion. One end of the first arc portionis bent outward and then is bent inward to form the bending portion. Specifically, a free end of the first arc portionis arched outward to form the bending portion. The bending portionis positioned in a corresponding region of the housing. The bending portionis used to reduce risks of a plastic deformation and a fracture of the elastic arm, thereby a usage lifespan of the elastic armis increased. One end of the bending portionextends outward and along the circumferential direction of the push buttonto form the second arc portion. A free end of the bending portionextends outward and along the circumferential direction of the push buttonto form the second arc portion. The second arc portionis disposed opposite to the first arc portion. Each elastic armis formed between two adjacent projection parts. In the present invention, the one side of the projection partis connected with the first arc portionof one elastic arm, and the other side of the projection partis close to and is spaced from the second arc portionof another elastic arm. The second arc portionabuts against a corresponding segment of the housing.

When each pressing areain one direction of the directional padis pressed, the corresponding projection part, and the first arc portion, the bending portionand the second arc portionof the corresponding elastic armmove downward.

Meanwhile, the projection part, the first arc portionand the bending portionin an opposite direction which is opposite to the pressed pressing areamove upward, and the second arc portionin the opposite direction abuts against the corresponding segment of the housing. Thus, the button structurehas the excellent hand feeling and the better tactile feedback.

The inner wallis shown as an annular shape. The inner wallhas the plurality of the connection sections. Several portions of the inner wallprotrude inward, and then extend upward and downward to form the plurality of the connection sections. Each connection sectionextends along a radial direction of the inner wall. The plurality of the connection sectionsare evenly distributed to an inner periphery of the inner wallalong a peripheral direction of the inner wall. The inner wallhas four connection sections. The four connection sectionsare arranged corresponding to the four directions of the directional pad. The four connection sectionsare corresponding to the four pressing areasof the directional padwhich are in the four directions, and the four connection sectionsare connected beneath the four pressing areasof the directional padwhich are in the four directions. The plurality of the connection sectionsare arranged corresponding to the plurality of the projection parts. Outer portions of bottoms of the plurality of the connection sectionsare connected to inner portions of the plurality of the projection parts. Tops of the plurality of the connection sectionsare connected to inner surfaces of the four pressing areasof the directional padwhich are in the four directions. The bottoms of the plurality of the connection sectionsare arranged corresponding to the metal buttonon the circuit board.

When each pressing areaof the directional padin the one direction is pressed downward, the bottom of the corresponding connection sectionpresses downward on the metal buttonof the circuit board. When the directional padis released, the corresponding connection sectionmoves upward and returns to an original position of the corresponding connection sectiondue to an elastic restoring force of the corresponding elastic arm. Thereby, the metal buttonof the circuit boardalso rebounds to an original position of the metal button.

Referring toto, the housinghas a top board, a lateral wall, a plurality of first retaining walls, a plurality of second retaining walls, a plurality of first bays, a plurality of second baysand a plurality of stopping blocks. Several portions of a bottom surface of the top boardextend downward to form the plurality of the stopping blocks. The second arc portionsof the plurality of the elastic armsof the push buttonabut against bottom surfaces of the plurality of the stopping blocks.

The lateral wallis connected to an outer periphery of the top board. Several portions of a bottom of the lateral wallextend downward to form the plurality of the first retaining wallsand the plurality of the second retaining walls. The plurality of the first retaining wallsare arranged corresponding to the first arc portionsof the plurality of the elastic armsof the push button. The first arc portionsof the plurality of the elastic armsare positioned to inner surfaces of the plurality of the first retaining walls. The plurality of the second retaining wallsare arranged corresponding to the second arc portionsof the plurality of the elastic armsof the push button. The second arc portionsof the plurality of the elastic armsare positioned to inner surfaces of the plurality of the second retaining walls. The plurality of the second retaining wallsare arranged corresponding to the plurality of the stopping blocks. The inner surfaces of the plurality of the second retaining wallsare connected to the plurality of the stopping blocks.

In the present invention, the plurality of the first retaining walls, the plurality of the second retaining walls, the plurality of the first baysand the plurality of the second baystogether form four stopping parts. Each stopping partincludes one first retaining wall, one second retaining wall, one first bayand one second bay. The four stopping partsare arranged corresponding to the four projection parts, and the clastic armswhich are connected to the four projection parts. For each stopping part, the first bayis formed between the first retaining walland the second retaining wall. Each second bayis formed between the first retaining walland the second retaining wallof two adjacent stopping parts.

The plurality of the first baysare formed among the plurality of the first retaining wallsand the plurality of the second retaining walls. The plurality of the first baysare arranged corresponding to the bending portionsof the plurality of the elastic armsof the push button, and the bending portionsof the plurality of the elastic armsare positioned in the plurality of the first bays. The plurality of the second baysare formed among the plurality of the first retaining wallsand the plurality of the second retaining walls. The plurality of the second baysare arranged corresponding to the plurality of the projection partsof the push button, and the plurality of the projection partsare positioned in the plurality of the second bays. The plurality of the first retaining walls, the plurality of the second retaining walls, the plurality of the first baysand the plurality of the second baystogether form the lateral wall.

When each pressing areain the one direction of the directional padof the push buttonis pressed downward, the corresponding projection part, and the first arc portion, the bending portionand the second arc portionof the corresponding elastic armall move downward. Meanwhile, the projection part, the first arc portionand the bending portionin the opposite direction which is opposite to the pressed pressing areamove upward, and the second arc portionin the opposite direction abuts against a lower end of the stopping blockwhich is corresponding to the second arc portionin the opposite direction. Thus, the button structurehas the excellent tactile feedback.

Referring toto, the supporting unitaccording to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The supporting unithas a main body, a fixing rod, two side armsand a positioning groove. The main bodyis positioned on the upper surface of the circuit board. A bottom surface of the main bodyis positioned on the upper surface of the circuit board. A middle of the main bodyextends downward to form the fixing rod. The fixing rodextends beyond the bottom surface of the main body. The fixing rodpenetrates through the circuit board, and the fixing rodextends beyond a lower surface of the circuit board. Two opposite sides of the main bodyextend outward to form the two side arms, respectively. The two side armsof the supporting unitare shown as Z shapes. The two side armsare positioned on the upper surface of the circuit board. During an assembling process of the supporting unit, the two side armsare deformed upward to avoid the two side armsfrom abrading the circuit board. A middle of a top surface of the main bodyis recessed downward to form the positioning groove. The positioning grooveis arranged corresponding to the protruding columnof the push button. The protruding columnof the push buttonis positioned in the positioning groove.

The main bodyhas a top part, two side wallsextended downward from two opposite sides of the top part, two connection walls, two openingsand two stiffeners. The fixing rodis extended downward from a middle of a bottom surface of the top part. The two side armsare extended outward from two middles of two outer surfaces of the two side walls, respectively. The main bodyis a hollow columnar structure. The top partis shown as a hexagonal shape. In a concrete implementation, the main bodyis without being limited to be the hollow columnar structure, and the top partis without being limited to be the hexagonal shape. In this first preferred embodiment, the two opposite sides of the top partextend downward to form the two side walls. The two middles of the two outer surfaces of the two side wallsextend outward to form the two side arms, respectively. The two connection wallsare arranged between the two side walls, and the two connection wallsare connected between the two side walls. The main bodyhas the two openingspenetrating through two inner surfaces and two outer surfaces of the two connection wallsand the bottom surface of the main body. The two openingsare used to increase an elasticity of the supporting unit. The two inner surfaces of the two side wallsextend inward to form the two stiffeners. The two stiffenersare connected to the fixing rod, and the two stiffenersare arranged corresponding to the two side arms. The two stiffenersare used to enhance a structural strength of the supporting unit.

The fixing rodhas a fixing portionextended downward from the bottom surface of the top part, two first extension portionsextended downward from a bottom surface of the fixing portion, two second extension portions, a plurality of slits, a plurality of tabsand two buckling hooks. A front and a rear of a lower portion of an outer surface of the fixing rodprotrude outward to form the two buckling hooks. A middle of the bottom surface of the top partof the main bodyextends downward to form the fixing portion. The fixing portionis a hollow columnar shape. Several portions of a periphery of the bottom surface of the fixing portionextend downward to form two first extension portionsand two second extension portions. The two first extension portionsare separated from each other. The two second extension portionsare separated from each other. The two first extension portionsare arranged corresponding to the two openingsof the main body. The two second extension portionsare arranged corresponding to the two stiffenersof the main body, and the two second extension portionsare connected to the two stiffenersof the main body. The two second extension portionsare also arranged corresponding to the two side arms. Bottoms of the two first extension portionsand the two second extension portionspass through the circuit board. The bottoms of the two first extension portionsand the two second extension portionsextend beyond the lower surface of the circuit board.

The two first extension portionsare parallel to each other, and the two second extension portionsare parallel to each other. The two first extension portionsand the two second extension portionsare spaced from one another. The two first extension portionsare opposite to each other. The two second extension portionsare opposite to each other. Each slitis formed between one first extension portionand one second extension portionwhich are adjacent to each other. The plurality of the slitsprovide avoiding spaces for elastic deformations of the two first extension portionsand two second extension portionsto prevent the fixing rodfrom abrading the circuit board. Middles of outer surfaces of the two first extension portionsand the two second extension portionsextend outward to form the plurality of the tabs. The tabsof the two second extension portionsare connected to the stiffenersof the main body. The tabsof the two first extension portionsand the two second extension portionsare used to increase the elasticity of the supporting unit. The two buckling hooksare extended outward from outer surfaces of the bottoms of the two first extension portions. Two bottoms of the two outer surfaces of the two first extension portionsextend outward to form the two buckling hooks. The buckling hookand the tabof each first extension portionare connected with each other. The two buckling hooksof the two first extension portionsare positioned to the lower surface of the circuit board. The two buckling hooksof the two first extension portionshook the lower surface of the circuit board.

Each side armhas an extension arm, a bending arm, a fixing endand a positioning bump. The middle of the outer surface of each side wallof the main bodyhorizontally extends outward to form the extension arm. An outer end of the extension armis bent downward to form the bending arm. A lower end of the bending armhorizontally extends outward to form the fixing end. The fixing endis fixed to the upper surface of the circuit board. A bottom surface of the fixing endextends downward to form the positioning bump. In another word, an upper portion of the fixing endis recessed downward to form the positioning bumpprotruding beyond the bottom surface of the fixing end. The positioning bumpis fixed to a corresponding zone of the circuit boardto realize that the supporting unitis located to the circuit board, and the supporting unitis fixed to the circuit board.

The two side wallsof the main bodyare symmetrical, the two connection wallsof the main bodyare symmetrical, the two openingsof the main bodyare symmetrical, the two first extension portionsof the fixing rodare symmetrical, the two second extension portionsof the fixing rodare symmetrical, and the two side armsare symmetrical to facilitate an automatic assembling operation.

In the first preferred embodiment, an inside of the supporting unitforms an inner spacethat penetrates through the lower surface of the supporting unit. The inner spaceis enclosed by the top part, the two side wallsand the two connection walls. The fixing rodextends downward to project out of the inner space. The bottoms of the two first extension portionsproject out of the inner space, and the bottoms of the two second extension portionsproject out of the inner space.

Referring toto, the circuit boardhas the metal button, a through holeand two positioning holes. The metal buttonis located on the upper surface of the circuit board. The through holepenetrates through the upper surface and the lower surface of the circuit board. The through holeis corresponding to the fixing rodof the supporting unit. The fixing rodof the supporting unitpasses through the through hole. The bottoms of the two first extension portionsand two second extension portionspass through the through hole. The two buckling hookspass through the through hole. The two buckling hooksare buckled to the lower surface of the circuit board. The circuit boardhas the two positioning holespenetrating through the upper surface and the lower surface of the circuit board. The through holeis located between the two positioning holes. The two positioning holesare corresponding to the two positioning bumpsof the two side arms. Two bottom surfaces of the two side armsare positioned on the upper surface of the circuit board. The two positioning bumpsof the two side armsare positioned in the two positioning holes.

The top partis mounted to the upper surface of the circuit board. The push button, the two side walls, the two connection wallsand the two side armsare positioned on the upper surface of the circuit board. The circuit boardis fastened among the bottom surface of the main body, the bottom surfaces of the two side armsand the top surfaces of the two buckling hooksof the supporting unit. The circuit boardis fastened among bottom surfaces of the two side wallsof the main body, bottom surfaces of the two side armsand top surfaces of the two buckling hooksof the supporting unit, so that a location between the circuit boardand the supporting unitand a fixation between the circuit boardand the supporting unitare realized, and a sway of the circuit boardis prevented. During a process of assembling the supporting unitand the circuit board, the two buckling hooksare deformed outward after the two buckling hookspass through the through hole, so that the two buckling hooksare prevented from abrading the circuit board.

Referring toand, the supporting unitof the button structurein accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown.

Differences between the button structureaccording to the second preferred embodiment and the button structureaccording to the first preferred embodiment are described as follows. A difference between the supporting unitaccording to the second preferred embodiment and the supporting unitaccording the first preferred embodiment is mainly in shapes of the two side armsof the supporting unit. In the second preferred embodiment, two ends of the outer surface of each side wallof the main bodyextend outward to form two extension arms. A connection armis connected between two outer ends of the two extension arms. An outer surface of the connection armis bent downward to form the bending arm. An outer end of the bending armextends outward to form the fixing end. The fixing endis fixed to the upper surface of the circuit board. The upper portion of the fixing endis recessed downward to form the positioning bumpprotruding beyond the bottom surface of the fixing end. The two positioning bumpsof the two side armsare positioned in the two positioning holes. A hollow areais formed among the two extension armsand the connection armof each side wallof the main body. The two hollow areasof the main bodyenhances the elasticity of the two side armsto facilitate a manual assembling operation.

As described above, the main bodyis positioned on the upper surface of the circuit board, the two first extension portionsand the two second extension portionspass through the through hole, the two buckling hookspass through the through hole, the two buckling hooksare buckled to the lower surface of the circuit board, the two positioning bumpsof the two side armsare positioned in the two positioning holes, and the circuit boardis fastened among the bottom surfaces of the two side wallsof the main body, the bottom surfaces of the two side armsand the top surfaces of the two buckling hooks, so the button structureprevents the circuit boardfrom shaking. Furthermore, the two side wallsof the main bodyare symmetrical, the two connection wallsof the main bodyare symmetrical, the two openingsof the main bodyare symmetrical, the two first extension portionsof the fixing rodare symmetrical, the two second extension portionsof the fixing rodare symmetrical, and the two side armsare symmetrical to facilitate the automatic assembling operation. In addition, the hollow areais formed among the two extension armsand the connection armof each side wallof the main body, and the two hollow areasof the main bodyenhances the elasticity of the two side armsto facilitate the manual assembling operation. As a result, the button structureis conveniently assembled automatically and manually, and the button structureis stably assembled and is applied to a game controller.